Soham murderer Ian Huntley dead aged 52 after being taken off life support following prison attack

Ian Huntley
Ian Huntley has died | PA
Marcus Donaldson

By Marcus Donaldson


Published: 07/03/2026

- 09:58

Updated: 07/03/2026

- 10:05

The former school caretaker was serving a minimum 40-year sentence for the 2002 murders of two ten-year-old girls

Child killer Ian Huntley has died following a savage prison attack.

The 52-year-old was left on life support after being attacked with a spiked metal pole at HMP Frankland in County Durham last week.


The former school caretaker was serving a minimum 40-year sentence for the 2002 murders of two ten-year-olds, best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapma, in Soham.

He did not regain consciousness after the assault.

Following the news of his death, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The murders of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman remain one of the most shocking and devastating cases in our nation’s history, and our thoughts are with their families.”

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “A man who was attacked at HMP Frankland in Durham last week has died in hospital this morning.

“Ian Huntley, 52, was taken to hospital with serious injuries following an incident in the workshop on the morning of Thursday, February 26.

“A police investigation into the circumstances of the incident is ongoing.“A file is being prepared for the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration for charges.”

Ian HuntleyIan Huntley murdered two schoolgirls in 2002 | PA

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